With the country effectively paralyzed by a week of general strikes and crippling protests, a
visibly rattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a country-wide state of Emergency for the second time in little over a month today.
The Sri Lankan government has declared a state of emergency in the country, following
violent protests that have rocked the nation for more than a week. The state of emergency,
which comes after protests intensified on April 1, suspends constitutional freedoms and
allows the government to take control of private businesses, including hotels and factories.
The protest was based on the struggle of citizens to find essential supplies, including food,
fuel, and medical supplies, to citizens.
On the other hand, the President’s decision to declare a national emergency sparked some
quick reactions, both domestically and from international actors, who argued that the
President was unwise and counterproductive in using such authority. The President’s
declaration will almost certainly be challenged in court, raising the stakes in this political
standoff.
